Memmingen - On the occasion of the online labor market congress from the Memminger Stadthalle, the Association of Bavarian Economy e. V. (vbw) with a view to the upcoming federal election more flexibility in labor market issues. This is the only way for the labor market in Swabia, Bavaria and Germany to master the future challenges of securing prosperity, said vbw Managing Director Bertram Brossardt. The association had also invited direct candidates from the major parties to this congress. Regina Leenders (SPD), Dr. Veronika Schraudt (CSU) and Kai Fackler (FDP) as well as Horst Holas, managing director of the employment agency Kempten-Memmingen had come, the representatives of the Greens and the Free Voters were prevented.
In his opening statement, Bertram Brossardt gave an overview of the current situation on the labor market in Swabia.
Traces of the pandemic restrictions can still be felt, in the Allgäu the unemployment rate of 2.6 percent was still above the pre-crisis level.
In coping with the crisis, the instrument of short-time allowance has proven itself very well and prevented worse.
A return to the figures from the pre-crisis period is only to be expected in the coming year 2022, provided that the currently increasing number of corona cases does not endanger the development.
Regardless of the current crisis-related situation, the vbw sees a great need for political action in three areas in particular.
Away from daily working hours - towards weekly working hours
On the one hand, the need for skilled workers must be met. The shortage of skilled workers is already being felt in the metal and electrical industry in three quarters of the companies. That is the main challenge for the coming years. The association names the digital qualification of companies and employees as the second challenge. According to the Institute for Labor Market and Occupational Research at the Federal Employment Agency, around a quarter of all jobs would be lost in the coming years as a result of the digital transformation, and new ones would also be added. The Bavarian economy sees the bureaucratic obstacles as a third problem; the economy urgently needs to be freed from their shackles. In all of these fields, the economy sees politicians challenged and makes their demands:Help and facilitation in recruiting foreign skilled workers, support in training and further education through a “digital further education fund” as well as a lifting of the limitation of daily working hours towards a weekly consideration.
Allgäuer Handwerk is looking for employees - also many apprenticeships are still vacant
Horst Holas, managing director of the Kempten-Memmingen employment agency, gave an overview of the structure of the existing unemployment in the Allgäu.
As in previous years, the trend towards the level of education as "protection against unemployment" continues.
While unemployment fell among academics, it is increasing among low-skilled workers.
There are currently a good 6,800 vacancies in the Allgäu - meaning the four Allgäu districts.
Employees are most sought after in the skilled trades - especially in the areas of plumbing, heating and air conditioning, then in care for the elderly before nursing.
The trend continues, because at the moment 1,900 trainee positions are still vacant in the Allgäu.
Where do Regina Leenders (SPD), Kai Fackler (SPD) and Dr. Veronika Schraudt (CSU) her focus
The three direct candidates on the podium set different priorities for the recipes against the shortage of skilled workers. Regina Leenders wants to use the SPD to turn the current employment agency into a skilled worker security agency. There must be an agency for further training and qualification that also provides financial incentives for people who want to continue their education. Kai Fackler (FDP) would like to start with school education and its current shortcomings. There are currently twice as many school dropouts as in previous years. In addition, the minimum wage and the upper earnings limit would have to be better adjusted so that people in mini and midi jobs are not allowed to work less and less with rising minimum wages without financial losses. Dr.Veronika Schraudt (CSU) wants above all to get more women into employment and also to relieve the burden through a "controlled influx" of foreign workers. Especially in the nursing professions, the framework conditions urgently need to be improved. It is not just about wages, but also about working hours and the compatibility of family and work. All three candidates largely agreed that the so-called "Hartz 4" rules should be changed, even if the ways to get there differ slightly. Work must be worthwhile again and the money earned on top of that must not be skimmed off again to a large extent.It is not just about wages, but also about working hours and the compatibility of family and work. All three candidates largely agreed that the so-called "Hartz 4" rules should be changed, even if the ways to get there differ slightly. Work must be worthwhile again and the money earned on top of that must not be skimmed off again to a large extent.It is not just about wages, but also about working hours and the compatibility of family and work. All three candidates largely agreed that the so-called "Hartz 4" rules should be changed, even if the ways to get there differ slightly. Work must be worthwhile again and the money earned on top of that must not be skimmed off again to a large extent.
Opinions differ when it comes to making working hours more flexible
When it came to making working hours more flexible, the differences between the parties emerged: while the CSU and FDP were open to a more flexible regulation, Regina Leenders (SPD) took a clear position against it.
A further flexibilization of the working hours away from the limitation of the daily working hours to the regulation on a weekly basis does not help, but only creates more precarious working conditions, which then again put women at a further disadvantage.
New Bundestag: Probably no fundamental changes to be expected
Overall, there was a great deal of harmony between the three parties with regard to the economic organization of our society, even if different concepts were discernible in nuances. The composition of the future Bundestag will show which of them can prevail; fundamental changes are unlikely to be expected.
